Improvement in processes of obtaining vegetable fibers



UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

WILLIAM ADAMSON AND CHARLES F. A. SIMONIN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENN-SYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO WILLIAM ADAMSON.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES OF OBTAINING VEGETABLE FIBERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,852, dated August8, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WVILLIAM ADAMSON and OHARLEs F. A. SIMONIN, both ofPhiladelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a Process of obtaining Vegetable Fibers, of which the followingis a specification:

Our invention consists in subjecting fibrous stalks, leaves, husks,bark, ac, to the vapors of hydrocarbon, so that without injuring thefibers they may be set free and rendered available for textilemanufactures.

Many different appliances may be used for car rying our invention intoeffect, but we prefer a closed vessel of any material which will resistthe chemical action of the contents, and in which the process can beconducted under pressure. Across the vessel and at a short distance fromthe bottom we place a perforated diaphragm, and on the latter aredeposited the fiber-bearing stalks, leaves, barks, or husks, which mayfill or nearly fill the vessel. A supply of hydrocarbon, by preference,such as is of a volatile character for instance, benzine, benzole,naphtha, or gasoline-is heated by a steam-coil, or otherwise, the

vapor rising and permeating the substance under treatment, and finallypassing to a condenser, whence it returns in a liquefied conditiondirectly to the space below the perforated diaphragm to be againvaporized, or it may be returned into the vessel at or near the top ofthe same an d pass through the mass of stalks until it reaches a pointwhere it is again vaporized. The vapor rapidly removes the resinous andgummy matter from the substance operated upon, and brings the fibrousportion of the said substance to a condition to be readily separatedfrom that which is nonfibrous. This separation may be efiected bywashing in a weak alkaline or equivalent solution, or, in someinstances, by mechanical means. The fibers are not injured by the actionof the vapor, and are available for use as paper-stock or for textilemanufactures. The rapidity with which the fibers can be set free willdepend partly upon the character of the stalks or leaves, partly on thepressure, and partly on the length of time during which the process iscontinued. In treating stalks or husks the fibers of which arecomparatively loose, or in which the fibers have been loosened bycrushing or other preliminary treatment of the stalks, the process maybe conducted without pressure, or even in an open vessel; but thislatter plan is objectionable, owing to the necessary loss of thehydrocarbon. We therefore prefer in all cases to practice the process ina closed vessel, under pressure determined by the character of thesubstance operated on.

lVe do not claim or desire to confine ourselves to any apparatus orappliances wherewith to carry our invention into effect. WVe do not hereclaim, broadly, the use of liquid hydrocarbons for reducing stalks,leaves, 850.; but

We olaim The mode, substantially as herein described, of obtainingvegetable fibers by the application of hydrocarbon vapors.

In testimony whereof we have signed ournam cs to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. ADAMSON.

Witnesses: OHS. F. A. SIMONIN.

WM. A. STEEL, LoUIs BosWELL.

